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Biomedical subjects

R L Warpeha

Publications and source records attributed to R L Warpeha.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Computed tomography of the larynx.

The normal computed tomographic anatomy of the larynx and surrounding structures is illustrated and discussed. An attempt is made to distinguish various types of tissues in cross-sectional display. The advantages of computed tomography over other modalities used for imaging the laryngeal region include the capacity to depict structural relationships in cross-section, to better define cartilaginous involvement by adjacent neoplasms, and to identify vascular components with contrast enhancement. The clinical application of computed tomography with respect to radiation therapy treatment planning of laryngeal tumors in an important feature of this imaging technique.

Humans

Angiotensin-1-converting enzyme activity as index of pulmonary damage in thermal injury with or without smoke inhalation.

Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, plasma renin activity (PRA), and serum aldosterone levels were measured up to four weeks in a population of adults exposed to thermal injury, with or without concomitant exposure to smoke inhalation. In 10 patients, plasma levels of angiotensin-2 and ACE activity in bronchial lavage were also evaluated. Patients with severe burn injury had a significant decline of serum ACE activity while the concentrations of aldosterone and PRA were markedly elevated. Smoke inhalation seemed to counterbalance the decline of serum ACE activity, and, in the last group of patients, ACE concentrations were higher than those recorded in patients suffering only from cutaneous burn. The ACE activity was evidenced in bronchial lavage of patients exposed to smoke inhalation with the highest values present in the first day after the injury. The same patients had also very elevated levels of plasma angiotensin 2. In conclusion, serum ACE activity decreases in burn patients according to the severity of the cutaneous burn; smoke inhalation influences serum levels of the enzyme with concentration values opposite to the low ones present in cutaneous burn. Finally, the enzyme activity has an independent pattern from that of the other components of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system. The evaluation of ACE activity may be a marker of pulmonary damage in smoke inhalation.

Adolescent

Circadian rhythms of serum aldosterone, cortisol and plasma renin activity in burn injuries.

Circadian rhythm of serum aldosterone and cortisol concentrations and of plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 10 adults with thermal injuries. The determinations were begun 6 to 48 hours after the injury and continued for five consecutive days four times a day. In all patients, the normal pattern of the circadian rhythm for all three hormones disappeared and values remained quite high at any time of the day or the night. Four patients developed an hypertensive crisis with quite elevated levels of aldosterone, cortisol and plasma renin activity. The same hormones were also found very elevated in two hypotensive patients with 80 percent or more of injured body surface who were in agonal conditions and succumbed to the injury.

Adult